When it comes to starting a business, the UAE is one of the top locations in the world, renowned for its UAE trade license policies that facilitate a smooth business setup. In part, this is because the government has worked hard to create an environment that is attractive to innovation. From free zone trade opportunities and business matchmaking to empowering female entrepreneurs – there is something for every budding entrepreneur. Could one of the opportunities and initiatives outlined below be the boost your Company’s needs? Ongoing business support For many budding entrepreneurs this is a first time adventure. Coming up with your big business idea is just the beginning. You'll need to navigate how to write business plans, market your services effectively, obtain the necessary approvals and licenses, and sift through legal and taxation requirements to get a clear picture. This is where the role of a business setup specialist becomes invaluable. Few people are experts in all these areas – and even fewer have the money to hire people for these roles when they’re just starting out – so support can be crucial. How the UAE provides ongoing business support There are various organizations, government agencies and initiatives that provide business counseling and mentoring, as well as technical and marketing support. This comprehensive support network is especially beneficial for those establishing their venture in a free zone, where low-cost business setup options are plentiful. The right company setup specialist will guide you through the setup process, meet regulations, recruit staff, and even assist in branding. Many free zones offer a one-stop-shop concept for easier facilitation of all approvals and paperwork. Networking opportunities Setting up is just the beginning of the adventure. Meeting and interacting with the business community is a vital part of the process for entrepreneurs looking to make a mark in the UAE. Networking ensures that innovation, contacts and partnerships keep flowing. How the UAE provides the opportunity to network There are various organisations that can help pair entrepreneurs and corporates with strategic UAE-based partners via business matchmaking. Entrepreneurs will find many business networking opportunities too. Online and word-of-mouth grapevines are very busy in the UAE, and not hard to find. Many networking groups have online hubs on the likes of Eventbrite, Facebook, LinkedIn, Meetup.com and Twitter’s Tweetups. These groups often meet regularly offline, too. In addition you’ll find support centres and support groups relevant to your sector. For non-UAE nationals there are also business councils specific to the entrepreneur’s country of origin. These exist to streamline economic co-operation between the UAE and foreign-run businesses, and there will usually be the opportunity to attend seminars, workshops and informal gatherings. It’s all about meeting and greeting, building profitable links, making the right connections, getting the heads-up for events and awards ceremonies, and gaining the attention of both your peers and your intended audience. It’s also about gaining less tangible benefits, such as moral support and a sense of community. Cost cutting The initial cost of setting up a business can be daunting. However, the UAE government and free zones often announce new initiatives that significantly reduce the cost of starting a new business, making low-cost business setup a reality for many. How the UAE helps keep new business costs low The UAE government frequently announces new initiatives and resolutions that slash the cost of starting a new business. Free zones themselves often offer promotions to help businesses keep costs down. If you’re just starting out, some of the free zones offer business setup packages for SMEs, and even new graduates, allowing access to shared workstations, ongoing support, and eligibility for visas, and residency. Empowering female entrepreneurs Figures by the Unilever Foundry show that worldwide just 17% of all businesses are founded by women. The story is similar in the MENA region. Despite global challenges, the UAE is making significant strides in supporting female-led businesses. Free zones and setup specialists offer dedicated services to empower female entrepreneurs, reflecting the country's commitment to gender equality in the business sector How the UAE is supporting women succeed in business The situation is evolving all the time, and in the UAE there has been a lot of change very quickly when it comes to gender equality. The UAE government has already made gender equality in the workforce one of its sustainable development goals and half of all SMEs in the UAE are now led by women. The free zones are also taking the issue seriously, and some have developed business packages specifically for women. Look for cutting edge setup specialists who offer services dedicated exclusively to female entrepreneurs. Residency stability For those looking to start a business in the UAE, the availability of long-term visas and the streamlined process offered by free zone one-stop-shops (OSS) make securing residency much simpler. How the UAE keeps residency simple Free zone one-stop-shops (OSS) streamline the process of living and working in the UAE. Visas and work permits can be obtained through a free zone authority’s OSS centres, making things much simpler. Long-term residency in the UAE is now open to more people than ever before, following the implemented new visa system in 2019. This includes 5 and 10 year visas for entrepreneurs, investors, specialist talents such as doctors and scientists, creative people in the fields of culture and art, and outstanding students who meet the authority’s requirements. Make your business dream a reality in the UAE These are just five key ways the UAE is supporting innovation and new businesses. We haven’t covered everything, so be sure to do more research. You’ll be surprised just how much support is available across the entire
When it comes to starting a business, the UAE is one of the top locations in the world, renowned for its UAE trade license policies that facilitate a smooth business setup. In part, this is because the government has worked hard to create an environment that is attractive to innovation. From free zone trade opportunities and business matchmaking to empowering female entrepreneurs – there is something for every budding entrepreneur. Could one of the opportunities and initiatives outlined below be the boost your Company’s needs?
For many budding entrepreneurs this is a first time adventure. Coming up with your big business idea is just the beginning. You'll need to navigate how to write business plans, market your services effectively, obtain the necessary approvals and licenses, and sift through legal and taxation requirements to get a clear picture. This is where the role of a business setup specialist becomes invaluable. Few people are experts in all these areas – and even fewer have the money to hire people for these roles when they’re just starting out – so support can be crucial.
There are various organizations, government agencies and initiatives that provide business counseling and mentoring, as well as technical and marketing support. This comprehensive support network is especially beneficial for those establishing their venture in a free zone, where low-cost business setup options are plentiful. The right company setup specialist will guide you through the setup process, meet regulations, recruit staff, and even assist in branding. Many free zones offer a one-stop-shop concept for easier facilitation of all approvals and paperwork.
Setting up is just the beginning of the adventure. Meeting and interacting with the business community is a vital part of the process for entrepreneurs looking to make a mark in the UAE. Networking ensures that innovation, contacts and partnerships keep flowing.
There are various organisations that can help pair entrepreneurs and corporates with strategic UAE-based partners via business matchmaking. Entrepreneurs will find many business networking opportunities too. Online and word-of-mouth grapevines are very busy in the UAE, and not hard to find. Many networking groups have online hubs on the likes of Eventbrite, Facebook, LinkedIn, Meetup.com and Twitter’s Tweetups. These groups often meet regularly offline, too. In addition you’ll find support centres and support groups relevant to your sector. For non-UAE nationals there are also business councils specific to the entrepreneur’s country of origin. These exist to streamline economic co-operation between the UAE and foreign-run businesses, and there will usually be the opportunity to attend seminars, workshops and informal gatherings. It’s all about meeting and greeting, building profitable links, making the right connections, getting the heads-up for events and awards ceremonies, and gaining the attention of both your peers and your intended audience. It’s also about gaining less tangible benefits, such as moral support and a sense of community.
The initial cost of setting up a business can be daunting. However, the UAE government and free zones often announce new initiatives that significantly reduce the cost of starting a new business, making low-cost business setup a reality for many.
The UAE government frequently announces new initiatives and resolutions that slash the cost of starting a new business. Free zones themselves often offer promotions to help businesses keep costs down. If you’re just starting out, some of the free zones offer business setup packages for SMEs, and even new graduates, allowing access to shared workstations, ongoing support, and eligibility for visas, and residency.
Figures by the Unilever Foundry show that worldwide just 17% of all businesses are founded by women. The story is similar in the MENA region. Despite global challenges, the UAE is making significant strides in supporting female-led businesses. Free zones and setup specialists offer dedicated services to empower female entrepreneurs, reflecting the country's commitment to gender equality in the business sector
The situation is evolving all the time, and in the UAE there has been a lot of change very quickly when it comes to gender equality. The UAE government has already made gender equality in the workforce one of its sustainable development goals and half of all SMEs in the UAE are now led by women. The free zones are also taking the issue seriously, and some have developed business packages specifically for women. Look for cutting edge setup specialists who offer services dedicated exclusively to female entrepreneurs.
For those looking to start a business in the UAE, the availability of long-term visas and the streamlined process offered by free zone one-stop-shops (OSS) make securing residency much simpler.
Free zone one-stop-shops (OSS) streamline the process of living and working in the UAE. Visas and work permits can be obtained through a free zone authority’s OSS centres, making things much simpler. Long-term residency in the UAE is now open to more people than ever before, following the implemented new visa system in 2019. This includes 5 and 10 year visas for entrepreneurs, investors, specialist talents such as doctors and scientists, creative people in the fields of culture and art, and outstanding students who meet the authority’s requirements.
These are just five key ways the UAE is supporting innovation and new businesses. We haven’t covered everything, so be sure to do more research. You’ll be surprised just how much support is available across the entire
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